It’s time to take a stand. Height adjustable desks and tables are not just a passing trend, they’re pretty much here to stay. And they’re not just here to update your tired, old office, they’re here to make you a healthier, happier person. By allowing you to raise and lower your worksurface area to accommodate your specific height, these sit-stand workstations give you the freedom to alternate between sitting and standing positions while you work throughout your day. And though research on the subject is still relatively in its early stages, many scientific studies have found that height adjustable desks and tables provide incredibly important health benefits while working those long hours at the office.

BENEFIT 1. REDUCE BACK PAIN

There’s no question about it. Back pain is the number one complaint among office employees who sit for long periods of time. After several studies on those who suffered from long-term back pain, participants reported 32% improvement in lower back pain just after several weeks of using height adjustable desks and tables. Participants also reported 54% improvement in upper back and neck pain within only 4 weeks. These improvements reversed within a 2-week period however, after the removal of the height adjustable workstations.

BENEFIT 2. IMPROVE MOOD AND ENERGY

Height adjustable desks and tables also seem to have positive effects with people’s mood and energy. In one study, participants who worked while standing experienced less fatigue and stress than those who stayed seated throughout the day. Also, almost 90% of those who experienced less fatigue and stress also experienced increased energy and vigor while working. When these participants returned to sit back at their old desks, their overall mood and energy reverted back to their original levels.

BENEFIT 3. MAY BOOST PRODUCTIVITY

While some people believe that vital daily tasks such as typing suffers from a standing position, one research study proved otherwise. Results of the study involving 60 office workers showed that standing while using height adjustable workstations actually have no negative impact on the participants’ typing speed, nor cause additional typing errors. In fact, because standing improves overall energy and mood, it’s more likely to encourage and boost worker productivity rather than impede it.

BENEFIT 4. LOWER BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS

In general, the more your blood sugar levels rise after a meal, the worse it is for you and your health, especially for those who suffer from type 2 diabetes. In a case study of 10 office participants, standing for 3 hours after lunch reduced their blood sugar spike by an average of 43% when compared to sitting after lunch for the same period of time. Another study found that 23 office participants reduced their blood sugar spikes by an average 11% when alternating between sitting and standing throughout the day every half hour.

BENEFIT 5. LOWER RISK OF WEIGHT-GAIN AND OBESITY

It’s as simple as grade school math: If your body takes in more calories than it burns, you’re more likely to gain weight, which can lead to obesity. While our hectic schedules in today’s world make it difficult to carve out time for exercise, simply standing while at work can help burn off calories. In fact, you can burn up to 170 additional calories per day by just choosing to stand every afternoon rather, than sitting for the same amount of time. That’s nearly 1000 calories you can burn each week.

BENEFIT 6. LOWER RISK OF HEART DISEASE

As early as 1953, studies have shown that standing provides incredible benefits for the heart. One study found that bus conductors who worked on their feet all day were 50% less at risk of heart disease than their bus driver counterparts who sat throughout the day. We’ve also come to know that prolonged sedentary time may lead to an increase risk of heart disease by up to an astonishing 147%. Sitting for long periods of time is so harmful that even an hour’s worth of exercise may not be enough to undo the negative effects of being seated at the office all day.

BENEFIT 7. LIVE LONGER

When you weigh all of these studies together, it’s not surprising to consider the connection between prolonged sitting, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Moreover, 18 studies have shown that those who sit for longer time periods are at greater risk of earlier deaths than those who sit less. A separate study also indicated that by reducing our sitting times to no more than 3 hours per day, we could raise our country’s life expectancy by about 2 years.

CHOOSING YOUR HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE DESKS AND TABLES

There’s no better time than now to consider trading in that old, traditional desk for a sit-stand workstation. Are you ready to take the stand? Find out more information about our favorite height adjustable desks and tables and what’s right for you on our website.